2025 Tesla Cybertruck Review: The World's Most Mistreated Vehicle

 The 2025 Tesla Cybertruck is a globally renowned pickup truck, distinguished by its staggering volume of pre-orders and notoriously long wait times. It also holds the dubious record of being the most abused vehicle in the world. But why is that?

The World's Most Abused Vehicle

In early 2024, Tesla officials themselves were compelled to issue a public plea, asking consumers to refrain from mistreating the company's pickup truck. The situation arose after CEO Elon Musk touted the Cybertruck as being capable of withstanding the apocalypse; in response, a number of owners decided to conduct durability tests involving bizarre stunts. Some subjected the vehicle to gunfire, others blasted it with flamethrowers, while still others climbed atop the truck and stomped on it with all their might.

The World's Most Abused Tesla Cybertruck
                                        
"The Cybertruck has endured a life of torture—all for the sake of entertainment. Jumped on, kicked, set on fire, punched, shot (multiple times). Now that everyone has seen just how tough this vehicle is, can the Cybertruck finally be free to roam in peace?" wrote engineer Wes Morrill on his personal Twitter account.

What is the Tesla Cybertruck?

The Tesla Cybertruck is a full-size, all-electric pickup truck manufactured by Tesla. It was first unveiled as a concept in November 2019 and officially launched as a production model in December 2023. It gained worldwide fame for its distinctive triangular body design, featuring flat stainless steel panels with a structural rigidity capable of withstanding direct blows from a sledgehammer.

The Tesla Cybertruck receives high ratings.

The three versions of the Cybertruck include a tri-motor AWD model, a dual-motor AWD model, and a single-motor RWD model, with an EPA-estimated range of 250–340 miles (400–550 km).

We also acknowledge Tesla's highly effective marketing campaign; indeed, right from its unveiling as a concept vehicle, the Cybertruck garnered 200,000 pre-orders, and many people have been waiting eagerly for it for four long years.

Just how powerful is the Tesla Cybertruck?

The dual-motor Cybertruck we tested firsthand delivers 600 horsepower and starts at $80,000, offering a driving range of 340 miles. When accelerating on the highway, the vehicle rockets to 100 km/h in approximately 4 seconds—very close to the manufacturer's published specifications. The sensation of being pinned to your seat is very real. Well, that is certainly exhilarating acceleration.

What about its off-road capabilities?

On a relatively easy off-road course, the traction control system proved underdeveloped, allowing the wheels to spin excessively. A more significant issue is the fact that, months after customer deliveries began, the differential lockers remain non-functional—a truly bizarre situation, given that these are simple mechanisms that merely toggle on or off and require minimal programming to activate.

Off-road tires

Furthermore, there is the reality that you cannot "stack pedals"—a very common off-road technique used to smoothly navigate over large obstacles. Clearly, if Tesla had any off-road experts on its development team, no one was listening to them.


What are the operational drawbacks?

There are also other issues that arise when off-roading. The large dashboard makes it somewhat difficult to see what lies directly ahead of the vehicle—even when standing up from the seat—and the front-facing camera is angled too far forward, failing to point sufficiently downward toward the ground. Strangely, activating it also triggers the rear-facing side cameras rather than the front camera itself; consequently, we are unable to see what is happening around our front wheels or gauge our proximity to obstacles. And there is no way to change this setting.

Large central display

Next is the issue regarding the aerodynamic fairings. They hang low and are prone to snagging on obstacles, which causes them to pop out of their mounting points. We are also concerned about the placement of the charging port on the fender, where it risks being damaged by trees and rocks during serious off-roading. Oh, and there is the fact that the Cybertruck does not come with a standard spare tire. You will definitely want to acquire one of those before venturing out onto the trails.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The dual-motor Tesla Cybertruck features a 123.0 kWh battery. Tesla claims that the latter can add 136 miles of range in 15 minutes when connected to a Supercharger, while the tri-motor model is said to add 128 miles within the same timeframe. In our testing, it took 50 minutes to charge the "Beast's" battery from 10 to 50 percent.

Dual-Motor Version: 340-Mile (547 km) Range

The electric truck's driving range varies depending on the number of motors; the Dual Motor version can travel 340 miles on a single charge, while the Cybertruck Beast achieves 301 miles. These figures rise to 440 and 470 miles, respectively, with the addition of an optional range-extender battery pack that fits neatly inside the truck's cargo bed. When the RWD Cybertruck eventually arrives, it is expected to have an estimated range of approximately 250 miles. We tested the dual-motor model—without the range-extender battery—on our highway fuel-economy route at a steady speed of 75 mph, and it achieved a result of 300 miles (482 km).

Is the Exterior Beautiful or Ugly?

Setting aside the impeccable build quality and the structural robustness of its bodywork, the Cybertruck's exterior design remains a subject of controversy. Is it truly beautiful, or is it ugly? We ourselves were initially captivated by this pickup's boldly futuristic aesthetic. However, as time passed—and we began seeing Cybertrucks out on the road after some real-world use—our minds began to harbor some doubts. Witnessing various units looking battered from minor collisions, or caked in mud while sporting a look unlike anything else on the road, left us feeling a bit skeptical.

A Controversial Exterior

Therefore, it is best that we refrain from passing judgment on its aesthetics. We’ll leave that to you.

Front-End Design

Regarding the exterior, we will let you judge the design for yourself. Everyone has their own opinion on the Cybertruck's appearance, and it would be futile to try to change anyone's mind.

What about the cabin?

It didn't take us long to realize that this is the best-built Tesla we have ever encountered. It feels solidly constructed, possessing a sturdiness that previous models sorely lacked. The design remains minimalist, featuring the signature large central screen that controls all key functions. A thin strip of ambient lighting adds a touch of flair—much like what you see in the updated Model 3. The Cybertruck may lack the luxury of the Rivian R1T, but it offers Tesla's most refined interior execution to date.

Images of the 2025 Cybertruck Body

As expected, this technology is among the best in the industry. Compared to other infotainment systems, the 2025 Cybertruck is in a league of its own, featuring stunning graphics and lightning-fast response times.


Even the audio system is distinctive. We still prefer using physical buttons over on-screen menus to control everything. This is a perfect moment to mention that the turn signal buttons on the steering wheel—as well as the paddle shifters on the screen—are entirely unnecessary additions.

Cabin

The interior space of the Cybertruck falls somewhere between that of the Rivian R1T and the F-150 Lightning. Front-row passengers will have no trouble getting comfortable. Everyone can independently control the climate and seat settings thanks to an additional screen in the second row.

Rear Passenger Cabin

Second-row legroom is very spacious—even for Kevin Nguyen, who stands 182 cm tall—though the sloping roofline may present some headroom issues for taller adults.

2025 Tesla Cybertruck Pricing (as of April 2026)

In the U.S., the Cybertruck is available in three configurations, with prices ranging from $50,000 to $99,990. The 2025 Cybertruck lineup tops out at $99,990 for the high-performance Cyberbeast model. In comparison with its competitors, the Ford F-150 Lightning has a starting price of around $50,000 but can climb to over $90,000. Rivian's R1T starts at just over $73,000 for a custom-built base model, positioning the Cybertruck's pricing roughly in the middle of this competitive landscape.


by Kevin Nguyen

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post